The Truth About Shark Attacks On The Rise In Texas

It's vacation time in Texas, and many people are cooling off in the water. They float the rivers and hit the Texas beaches.

Recently, in an interview with Click2Houston.com, a nineteen-year-old girl vacationing from Oklahoma said a shark bit her in about four feet of water.

Thankfully, she reacted well. She punched the shark in the face until her hand freed its jaws.

Why the sudden surge in shark attacks across the nation? Reports of attacks have emerged from the Atlantic seaboard, the Gulf of Mexico in Florida, and now the Texas coast, raising concerns.

Experts don't know the exact cause of the uptick, but here are some reasons they suspect.

Environmental Impact:

Rising sea temperatures, migration patterns, and altered prey disruptions are believed to bring sharks closer to beachgoers.

Encroachment by Humans:
With more and more development of coastal areas, overfishing and even pollution increase the chances that sharks will come into contact with us.

More Media Coverage:
Because we live in a world where everything can be instantly reported in social and mainstream media, and it is sometimes sensationalized for clicks, you hear about attacks that may have never been reported outside the area of the attack in the past.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department says attacks like the one in Galveston happen about every three years, which is statistically about one attack in twenty million visitors.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has these tips on avoiding sharks in the water.

Try to stay in groups; sharks are more likely to bite an individual.

Don't go into the water if you have any bleeding or open wounds.

Don't wear shiny jewelry; it can be mistaken for scales on a bait fish.

Try not to be in the water during twilight or late hours. At these times of day, sharks are more active feeding.